MODULE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND PLANNING WITH CRIME MAPPING

Chapter 5 : Police Operations : Traffic

Objectives:
1.Demonstrate the knowledge of traffic.
2.Identify the origin of traffic.
3.Identify the functional areas of police traffic services.

Origin of Traffic

The word traffic originally meant "trade"

(as it still does) and comes from the Old Italian
verb trafficare and noun traffico. The origin of
the Italian words is unclear.Suggestions
include Catalan trafegar "decant", an
assumed Vulgar Latin verb transfricare 'rub
across', an assumed Vulgar Latin combination
of trans- and facere 'make or
do', Arabic tafriq 'distribution', and
Arabic taraffaqa, which can mean 'seek
profit'. Broadly, the term covers many kinds of
traffic including network traffic, air traffic,
marine traffic and rail traffic, but it is often
used narrowly to mean only road traffic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-the-duties-of-the-traffic-officer.html (video link)

Functional Areas Police Traffic Services

TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Traffic police or traffic officers,[1] often referred to colloquially

as traffic cops, are police officers who direct traffic or serve in a traffic or
roads policing unit enforcing rules of the road. Traffic police
include officers who patrol major roads and also police who address
traffic infractions on other roads. It has been noted that:
• ...traffic police, who are regarded as peripheral to most police forces,
participate in both authoritative intervention and symbolic justice. Perhaps
alone of all the assignments, traffic police are full-service police. They are
different from the rest, however, because their work is limited to a particular
venue — namely, public thoroughfares — and to particular people — namely,

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those who operate motor vehicles. But in terms of work, traffic police are
detectives as well as patrol officers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_police#:~:text=

A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose
of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or
a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily
concerned with such duties. They are also referred to in many countries
as traffic police, although in other countries this term is more commonly used
to refer to foot officers on point duty who control traffic at junctions.

Basic Purposes of Traffic Enforcement

1. To control congestion

• Traffic congestion is a condition on transport that is characterised by

slower speeds, longer trip times, and
increased vehicular queueing. Traffic
congestion on urban road networks has
become increasingly problematic since the
1950s.[1] When traffic demand is great
enough that the interaction between
vehicles slows the speed of the traffic
stream, this results in some congestion.
While congestion is a possibility for
any mode of transportation, this article will
focus on automobile congestion on public
roads.
• As demand approaches the capacity of a road (or of the intersections
along the road), extreme traffic congestion sets in. When vehicles are
fully stopped for periods of time, this is known as a traffic jam or
(informally) a traffic snarl-up.[4][5] Traffic congestion can lead to drivers
becoming frustrated and engaging in road rage.
• Mathematically, congestion is usually looked at as the number of
vehicles that pass through a point in a window of time, or a flow.
Congestion flow lends itself to principles of fluid dynamics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_congestion#:~:text=
2.To reduce accidents
In the developed countries, the traffic rules and regulations are enforced
on all motorists while in the developing countries, there is poor implementation
of the traffic rules and regulations coupled with diverse personal issues that

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many people in the developing countries have to face. Such issues, amongst
others include, poverty, depression, physical illness, emotional and financial
stress. These are enormous possible factors that may force the road users to
misbehave when making use of the road. Hence, below are 10 possible ways of
reducing road accidents on our roads:

Possible way of reducing road accidents

1. A political will and commitment by all established organizations

concerned to deal with road traffic accidents. All law enforcement agencies
must consciously work to enforce traffic the rules and regulations on all
motorists. It must be a commitment without favoritism.
2. A careful plan involving education, engineering and enforcement to
reduce the rate of accidents
3. Transport authorities must have the same goal to reduce the high rate
of accidents and the strong passion to bring it to reality.
4. A concrete plan with specific measures for implementation and
enforcement must be made.
5. There must be a strong co-ordination within and among different
levels of government and with private actors.
6. Careful and critical evaluation of measures and their effectiveness to
achieve the desired goal.
7. There must be a road safety policy to achieve this goal.
8. The widespread nature of corruption mostly in Africa, among the
government officials e g. the Police, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), etc. must
be checked.
9. Recognizing road the traffic accidents as the handiwork of man and
not as a question of fate.
10. Understanding all accidents as a result of human errors are
preventable, if there is positive change in our attitude toward road safety.

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TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

& MANAGEMENT

Traffic Management
– it comprises all public surfaces ,
facilities and agencies having
responsibility for licensing, approving,
maintaining and controlling the flow of
traffic and the use of traffic facilities.

Accident (Legal meaning)

– an accident is any happening beyond the control of a person the
consequences of which are not foreseeable. (There is no criminal liability in
accident provided, the following requisites or elements under the law must
be satisfied; 1.) performance of a lawful act; 2.)with due care; 3.) causes
injury to another by mere accident; 4.) without any fault or intention of causing
it.)

What Happens In A Traffic Accident Investigation?

The police will investigate a traffic accident with the intention of

determining if any criminal action took place in the traffic accident. Some of
the things the police look for are speeding, hours-of-service violations,
mechanical violations, alcohol use, drug use, etc. For example, if a truck driver
is exceeding his hours of service and causes a serious traffic accident because
he fell asleep at the wheel, he will likely be criminally charged. If that traffic
accident results in a fatality, the charge will likely be vehicular homicide.

Depending on the nature of the traffic accident, a traffic accident

investigation can include visits to the accident site as well as interviews with
witnesses and with those involved. A traffic accident investigator will attempt to
re-create exactly what happened so they can see exactly what took place and
how. Today, this often is done with a variety of computer software programs. A
traffic accident investigator may collect testimonies and other evidence, such
as measure and document the scene with photographs and notes, that can
help you determine exactly what happened in a traffic accident.

During the reconstruction stage, investigators will examine the point of

impact, final resting positions, skid marks, scrub marks, and gouge marks.
Electronic surveying equipment is typically used during this stage to recreate
the traffic accident. The investigators may also inspect each vehicle beyond the
damage it has suffered. Checking components like brakes, steering, tires,
suspension, and lights may shed light on the cause of the traffic accident.

https://www.pinow.com/articles/2348/traffic-accident-investigations#:~:text=

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Benefits of Accident Investigations

When properly conducted, accident investigations:

• help prevent future accidents,

• help you identify and eliminate hazards,
• expose deficiencies in your processes or
equipment,
• reduce injury and workers compensation costs,
and
• maintain and improve employee morale.

https://www.safetyproresources.com/blog/why-you-should-train-your-employees-on-accident-
investigation

TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL

It is the control of the movements of road users
according to proportionate time through traffic signal or
hand gesture.
A. Traffic Direction and Control

1. Standardized methods of traffic control are more effective

and result in improved public relations. a) For safety and
the ability to best observe traffic flow, the center of an
intersection is often the best position. b) When regulating
foot traffic, working a complex intersection, or when full
manual control is not necessary, the employee should be in
the best position to observe the traffic approaching. The employee should
consider a motorist may fail to obey hand signals if unable to see the officer.
2. Employees will wear a reflective safety vest whenever in the roadway
directing or controlling traffic. Wearing the helmet is at the discretion of the
officer except when directed to do so by a supervisor. Reflective vests are issued
and will be carried at all times.
3. When hazardous situations develop a supervisor will direct the
establishment of a manual traffic control point, if needed. For special events
the supervisor may issue, directed patrol assignments stating when and where
manual control of intersection traffic will be required. Manual control shall not
be used when an existing automatic control device will alleviate the problem.

B. Manual Operation of Traffic Control Devices

1. Manual operations of traffic control signal light is normally done to either

attempt to recycle a signal light or place the signal lights on flash. Other
situations may also require manual operation: a) When the traffic light
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malfunctions. b) To facilitate movement at traffic accidents or other

emergencies. c) To provide uninterrupted movement for a motorcade, funeral
procession, etc. d) To alleviate congestion resulting from use of automatic
controls, particularly during planned special events.
2. When manually operating traffic control signal lights due to traffic
congestion in all four directions, employees will: a) Stop traffic in all directions.
b) Place the traffic control signal on four-way flash. c) Direct traffic from within
the intersection until the congestion is alleviated.
3. When manually operating traffic control signals due to traffic congestion on
one street, employees will: a) Place the traffic signal box switch on "manual"
and run traffic for an extended period of time in one direction. b) Switch to the
other direction of travel for shorter periods of time until the congestion has
been alleviated.

C. Hand Signals

1. It is essential that people using the roadway know the officer is there to
direct traffic.
2. Employees will use approved traffic direction and control methods to ensure
traffic direction and control techniques are standardized.
3. Orders or direction to a motorist or pedestrian should never be vocal except
in an emergency. Simple hand signals that are clearly visible and readily
understandable emphasized, by the use of the whistle will conform to:
a) The employee should stand facing one line of stopped traffic with their side
toward moving traffic. Any mechanical signals should be turned off if possible
as hand signals in conjunction with traffic signals cause confusion. b) The
manual "stop" signal should be given while standing sideways to the flow of
traffic and should be preceded by one blast of the whistle.

(1) Speed and distance should be carefully considered so vehicles can stop
safely.

(2) A "stop" signal will be given when vehicles

approach an intersection where cross traffic has the
right-of-way if there are no other stopped vehicles
there at the time. c) The employee maintains arms
in the "stop" signal position and turns at right
angles so their side faces the traffic to be started.
When the intersection is clear, the officer should
turn their head first to one direction while giving
the "go" signal and then to the opposite direction
with a similar gesture. d) The "go" signal need not
be continuously repeated for a steady stream of
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vehicles, but vehicles approaching after a gap in the

traffic flow should be signaled.

D. Using the Whistle

a) One whistle blast is used in conjunction with the

manual "stop" signal and two with the "go" signal. b)
Short rapid whistle blasts are used to warn of
unusual or hazardous conditions or to attract any
person's attention who does not respond to hand
signals.
b) Vehicles should not be allowed to enter intersections they cannot clear
because of congestion immediately beyond.
c) Advantage should be taken of gaps in one moving line of traffic to stop the
flow and to start the cross traffic moving.
d) Left turns at an intersection controlled by an officer are at the employee’s
discretion based on traffic volume and conditions at the intersection, unless
otherwise directed by a supervisor.
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=13771

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Traffic engineering is a branch of civil engineering that

uses engineering techniques to achieve the safe and efficient movement of
people and goods on roadways. It focuses mainly on research for safe and
efficient traffic flow, such as road geometry, sidewalks and crosswalks, cycling
infrastructure, traffic signs, road surface markings and traffic lights. Traffic
engineering deals with the functional part of transportation system, except the
infrastructures provided.
Traffic engineering is closely associated with other disciplines:

• Transport engineering
• Pavement engineering
• Bicycle transportation engineering

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• Highway engineering
• Transportation planning
• Urban planning
• Human factors engineering.
Typical traffic engineering projects involve
designing traffic control device installations and modifications, including traffic
signals, signs, and pavement markings. Examples of Engineering Plans include
pole engineering analysis and Storm Water Prevention Programs
(SWPP).[1] However, traffic engineers also consider traffic safety by investigating
locations with high crash rates and developing countermeasures to reduce
crashes. Traffic flow management can be short-term (preparing construction
traffic control plans, including detour plans for pedestrian and vehicular traffic)
or long-term (estimating the impacts of proposed commercial/residential
developments on traffic patterns). Increasingly, traffic problems are being
addressed by developing systems for intelligent transportation systems, often in
conjunction with other engineering disciplines, such as computer
engineering and electrical engineering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_engineering_(transportation)

Common objectives of traffic engineering included the following:

• Providing high efficient traffic flow through ample research and

innovative design efforts.
• To produce free flow of traffic.
• Use research to design roadways and highways that increase traffic
safety (strategic implementation of stop signs, traffic signs, and traffic
lights)
https://www.t2-eng.com/importance-traffic-engineering/
TRAFFIC ANCILLARY SERVICES
Those police activities that have an indirect effect on traffic flow.
Comprehensive guidelines on aiding disabled motorists, removing hazards,
controlling auto theft, disposition of abandoned cars and safeguarding
property.
POLICE TRAFFIC SERVICES MANAGEMENT
The essential responsibility of all police traffic services is to protect the
life and property of the community they serve. The function of this is to provide
assistance to the motorist in the event of illness, being lost, vehicle failure, etc.
The activities that make up are those of emergency
medical services, emergency service for vehicle and the
delivery of information about traffic and road condition
and location.
http://books.google.chttpsom.ph/books?id

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Reference:

http://books.google.chttpsom.ph/books?id

https://www.t2-eng.com/importance-traffic-engineering/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_engineering_(transportation)
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=13771

https://www.safetyproresources.com/blog/why-you-should-train-your-employees-on-accident-
investigation
https://www.pinow.com/articles/2348/traffic-accident-investigations#:~:text=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_congestion#:~:text=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_police#:~:text=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic

Video Links:
1.Traffic Law Enforcement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsWou0avdk4

https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-the-duties-of-the-traffic-officer.html

2.Traffic Accident and Investigation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1PtWyu8IBQ
3.Traffic Direction and Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXU1H0nuQPc
4.Traffic Engineering
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URQu9LxI0sM

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